Say You Love Me

Disclaimer: See chapter one.


Chapter Six
It Was All A Mistake, Sir

Severus was still trying to sort out his reaction to being kissed by a student when he was summoned. He wasted no time in responding, certain that Ecclestia had fled to Voldemort.

\"Master.\" He went to his knees quickly, kissing the be-ringed hand that Voldemort extended.

A snort of contempt came from behind Severus. He didn\'t need to look to know that it was from his dear, plotting bride.

\"Severus, I was unhappy to find that you have yet to consummate your union with your beautiful bride,\" Voldemort said. The Death Eaters surrounding them fell silent, most anticipating a painful punishment.

\"I apologize Master, but I am finding my bride to be disrespectful of her place in my home.\"

Voldemort leaned back, his eyes penetrating and contemplative. Severus fought to keep his mind clear and void of anything that would betray his real thoughts on the matter.

\"All of you, be gone,\" Voldemort said to the crowd of Death Eaters. \"Go and amuse yourselves. I wish to speak to Severus alone.\"

The Death Eaters obeyed but Ecclestia, who was clinging to a slyly grinning Lucius Malfoy, could not keep her mouth shut.

\"What about my rights as his wife? I say he needs to be punished severely.\"

\"Silence, woman!\" Voldemort stood up, red flashing from his eyes. \"I and I alone shall decide if punishment is to be meted out here. If you do not obey me it shall be you receiving the punishment.\"

\"Come my precious jewel,\" Lucius whispered in Ecclestia\'s ear. \"Let the rotter attempt to save himself. Besides, a half-blood like Snape is not worth wasting your beauty on.\"

\"How I wish I\'d chosen you instead,\" Ecclestia whined, as the two disapparated.

\"Now,\" Voldemort seated himself again, and motioned for Severus to rise. \"You shall explain to me why it is that you do not wish to bed your bride.\"

\"I do not care for her, Master.\"

\"Marriages between my followers are not built on caring, Severus. They are a necessity to keep our ranks strong. I expect the children of these unions to continue to multiply our numbers. You have failed me, and failed to follow my orders.\"

\"I have, Master.\"

\"You deserve the cruciatus curse.\"

\"I do, Master.\"

\"Have you nothing to say for yourself? Is there someone else that you would be wed to, that piques your interest?\"

Before he could stop it, a very brief flash of the kiss he had shared with Hermione Granger came into his mind.

\"It would matter not, Master, as wizarding marriages are forever.\"

\"There are ways of handling such things. But unlike that fool Dumbledore who would be sitting here gently trying to nudge you to do his bidding, I must demand that you fulfill your wife\'s wishes and consummate the marriage. You have disappointed me, Severus. I do not like to be disappointed.\"

Voldemort\'s next word did not surprise Severus, not in the least.

\"Crucio.\"

The familiar pain of punishment shot through Severus as he collapsed to the ground, writhing before blacking out.

~*~

Hermione found her mind wandering as she tried to study that evening. Snape had left her standing on the quidditch pitch, alone and breathless after their torrid kiss.

You are a complete and utter idiot, Granger.

Not only had she tossed a dare in her Professor\'s face, she had called him \"Severus\". How was she ever going to face him again? And what would happen if he told Dumbledore? She might be safe in that respect, as Dumbledore would disapprove of Snape reacting to a dare from a student.

The sad thing was that she\'d liked the kiss. In that one-minute or so that they\'d remained fused together, she\'d understood that the difference between a man and a boy did not just rely on age. She couldn\'t begin to even think about what experience that Professor Snape had in the erotic arts.

Hermione was inquisitive by nature and this encounter had tempted her to want to explore further, and to explore it with the elusive Professor. The stubborn part of her refused to accept that he was now married and therefore, off limits to her or any other witch.

Her heart hurt knowing that he would be below in his dungeon rooms alone with his wife, in bed. Hermione stared at the page in front of her trying to force her mind away from the subject of Professor Severus Snape. The ancient writing on the History of Advanced Magic ran together as a teardrop fell and hit the page.

\"Reparo,\" Hermione whispered miserably. She closed the book in disgust before replacing it on the shelf. The hourglass on Madame Pince\'s shelf denoted that it was nearly curfew and time for her and Draco to make their rounds.

~*~

Draco was waiting for her in the main hall by the time Hermione had taken her book bag upstairs and returned. She\'d taken a few moments to wash her face and compose herself, but Draco still assessed her as she approached him. He said nothing, but made a mental note to mention it to Severus later.

\"I wonder where the Professor is,\" Hermione said when an hour had passed and they had not encountered the great black bat of the dungeons.

\"I have no idea. It is strange that he isn\'t about tonight. I know for a fact that he takes pride in making the rounds,\" Draco replied.

The two had nearly finished with the rounds and were passing the hospital wing when stealthy noises reached their ears, which made them stop in their tracks.

Groans of pain and of Madame Pomfrey using a silencing spell caused them to tiptoe to the door, which was ajar.

Dumbledore and the medi-witch were bending over a protesting Professor Snape, who lay on one of the cots.

\"He\'s been crucioed again,\" Draco whispered.

Hermione\'s heart leaped into her throat seeing her beloved Professor in such pain.

\"Can\'t we help him?\"

\"Are you crazy, Granger? Dumbledore isn\'t going to let us near him.\"

The clearing of a throat made both students jump. Dumbledore stood outside the doors to the hospital wing, mildly amused.

\"You are correct in that assumption, Mr. Malfoy,\" Dumbledore said. \"There is naught neither of you can do for Professor Snape. You would do best to forget what you have seen.\"

\"Shouldn\'t someone sit with him, Sir?\" Hermione asked.

\"Do not worry yourself, Miss Granger. Madame Pomfrey is treating him and will watch over him until he recovers. Now if the two of you have completed your duties, I would suggest that you return to your respective houses.\"

The look on Dumbledore\'s face communicated that it was an order, not a suggestion, so the two reluctantly left.

\"Why are you so worried about Snape?\" Draco asked. \"He\'s not your head of house.\"

\"He\'s a good person, Draco. I don\'t want to see anyone punished like that, especially him. He\'s done so much for the order.\"

\"If I didn\'t know better, Granger, I would swear that you\'re fancying him.\"

\"Hardly. He\'s our Professor.\"

\"As if that would make a difference,\" Draco smirked at her. \"Don\'t worry, the love of your life will make it. Give him a day or so.\"

\"Shut up, Malfoy.\" Hermione huffed off up the stairs, her face a mask of indifference until she was alone again.

~*~

Ecclestia arrived home early that morning. Her eyes were heavy lidded. Lucius Malfoy was certainly an insatiable lover, she thought, stretching.

It didn\'t surprise her to find Severus absent. She knew that Voldemort would punish him. Once he recovered he should be more malleable about fulfilling her wishes instead of denying her his sexual congress. Perhaps she should pay her husband a visit in the hospital wing. Ecclestia had no doubt that he had made it back to Hogwarts. Probably hiding under Dumbledore\'s care, she mused. Albus Dumbledore needed to be done away with, the old meddler. She would take care of him herself, but Voldemort had told her to stay away from Albus. Her job was to learn what she could about the order and their plans.

Ecclestia yawned. She had much to do today, but a little nap first wouldn\'t hurt.

~*~

It was past the noon hour before Ecclestia donned her red robes and appeared at the door of the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey was in the process of checking on Severus, and not pleased to see his wife glowering at her.

\"May I help you, Madame Snape?\"

\"No you may not. I am here to sit at my husband\'s side,\" Ecclestia sniffed.

\"Your husband doesn\'t require someone to sit by him,\" Poppy explained. \"He is doing well and should be able to return to his duties tomorrow.\"

\"I shall sit with him if I choose to do so. I shall not be ordered around by the likes of you.\" A flick of her red lacquered nail brought a chair to Severus\' bedside.

Poppy stared at the witch in distaste. The hospital wing was her domain and she was in charge here. However, Albus had warned the staff not to get into any disagreements with the unwanted \"guest\".

\"As you wish, Madame,\" Poppy relented. \"But I must ask that you keep your visit short. Your husband needs his rest.\"

The medi-witch left Ecclestia and returned to her office.

Ecclestia gave Poppy\'s retreating backside a sly smirk.

\"Well, my dear husband,\" she cooed as she seated herself and turned back to her husband. \"I see that the dark one has let you off lightly this time. Defy him again and he may cast the unforgivable on your with my blessing.\"

Severus opened his eyes and the venom Ecclestia saw there was quite clearly communicated.

\"Do not attempt to outthink our Master, Ecclestia,\" he replied. \"It is foolish to relax as you are doing. An unforgivable could be cast as you just as easily as it could be at my person.\"

\"You are the foolish one Severus, for not acceding to my wishes.\"

\"Indeed.\"

\"Professor?\"

Hermione had peeked into the hospital between classes. She had been unable to keep away from Snape any longer. The fact that his wife was sitting there did not stop her from worrying about him.

\"My husband is not to have visitors, girl,\" Ecclestia snapped, hating the very sight of the young woman standing there in her school uniform.

\"Miss Granger is welcome here if she so wishes, Ecclestia.\" Severus flashed a look of warning to his wife. \"Thank you for your concern, Miss Granger, but I should be up and about shortly. You need to return to your classes.\"

\"Is there anything that I can do for you?\"

\"No,\" Severus had to stop from snapping at the girl. He was uncomfortable looking at her since their unexpected contact. Even with the pain he was still feeling, it was hard to ignore that his body was delighted to see Hermione Granger and those luscious lips of hers. \"Thank you,\" he added. \"You may rest assured that I am being seen to.\"

Ecclestia came to her feet, arms crossed. She looked down her nose at the much shorter witch.

\"Miss Granger or whatever your name may be,\" she hissed, \"be forewarned that I have no intention of sharing what is mine. Stay away from my husband or be prepared to face my wrath.\"

\"Do not threaten her, Ecclestia.\" Severus reached for his wand, which had been removed from his bedside by Poppy. \"I will not allow you to speak in such a manner to any student in this castle.\"

\"I am not ignorant, Severus. I see the lust in your eyes when you look at her. Is Albus aware of your thoughts?\"

Hermione was so shocked at Ecclestia\'s accusation that she wasn\'t able to stop the flow of red to her face.

\"Miss Granger, leave us,\" Severus commanded.

It was tempting for Hermione to put the evil woman in her place, but seeing Poppy open her door and approach was enough to give her incentive not to do anything.

\"Yes, Sir. I hope you feel better.\"

Hermione hurried past Poppy, still blushing.

\"What is going on out here? Madame Snape, I must insist that you leave the hospital now and stop upsetting your husband.\"

Ecclestia\'s wand was out in a flash and pointed at Poppy\'s throat.

\"Do not attempt to tell me what to do,\" Ecclestia snarled. \"It will take very little for me to kill you where you stand.\"

\"You will do nothing of the sort.\" Albus Dumbledore entered the hospital, his face void of any kindness for once. \"Ecclestia, you will leave this hospital at once and be advised that I am banishing you to your rooms.\"

\"You cannot banish me anywhere, Albus. I am a follower of the Dark Lord and will do as I please.\"

\"I do not fear Voldemort. I will not have you causing problems amongst my staff and students. If you refuse to remain in your quarters, you give me no choice but to banish you from Hogwarts.\"

Ecclestia lowered her wand. She was breathing hard, her face a mask of fury.

\"You have not won, Albus. I will not give you the satisfaction of removing me from the castle. I will also not tolerate that child chasing after my husband.\"

\"To what child are you referring?\"

\"That Granger girl.\"

\"Ah, Miss Granger. She is an excellent student, held in high regard by the staff. A most thoughtful and intelligent young woman, she is the most brilliant witch that we have had in a hundred years. I hardly consider her to be a threat to Severus. She is one of his most valued students.\"

Ecclestia stopped halfway to the door and turned.

\"You have no idea how valued she is to him, Albus,\" she snapped before stalking off.


Authors note: thanks to Lovethelab, jtbjab, Sammie Curls, Alpha, Estella, daygonna, rhiannon, pyewacket, anya, pinky heather, janya, Ms_figg (one of my favorite writers!), and Mirabella_underhill for the great reviews.

I do apologize for the delay in posting. RL interfered in the form of a dear friend having a massive heart attack whilst sitting next to me in the car. It resulted in five bypasses and I have had little time to write!

All reviews are appreciated.